> First problem is with my Windows Media Player:
when I try to play a WAV, MP3, or WMV, I get no audio. The file plays, but I
get no audio. Other times I get an error message that says "Wmplayer caused
an error in [unknown]" and it shuts down.

> Second is with running software in Windows ME:
> My computer originally came with Windows 98 and I ran that for 3 years. I
recently upgraded to Windows ME and I'm having a few problems. First, is
trying to run some of my CD-ROM games that worked just fine in Windows 98. I
had uninstalled them before upgraded to clear some disk space and intended
to reinstall them in Windows ME. All my CD-ROMs work perfectly except for
two - Trivial Pursuit Millenium Edition and Adobe PhotoDeluxe 3.1. Here are
the messages I got after installation:
> TRIVAL PURSUIT ERROR MESSAGE WHEN TRYING TO START PROGRAM:
> Windows cannot run this program because it is in an invalid format
> AND
> The C:/WINDOWS/SYSTEM/DSOUND.DLL file is corrupt. Please reinstall the
file and try again.
> ADOBE ERROR MESSAGE WHEN TRYING TO START:
> C:/Program Files/PhotoDeluxe HE 3.1/PD3.EXE A device attached to the
system is not functioning
> AND
> SHELL32.DLL file linked to missing export
SHLWAPI.DLL:SHCreateStreamOnFileA.
> Do you know how I can fix this and make the games work?
>
> Third is a CD-RW drive question:
> I really, REALLY want a CD-RW drive but when I took my computer to have
one installed, the shop told me that my system was too small and it kept
crashing whenever they tried to use it, so they had to take the drive out.
Is there anyway to get around that? And would I be able to use any type of
external CD-RW drives? I have a Packard Bell, Windows ME (upgraded from
Windows 98), 48x speed CD-ROM drive, 6.4 GB hard drive and a MII -333 MMX
Enhanced Processor. Would I be able to use one?
>
> Can you help with any of these?
>
> -Sarah

Sarah, your CPU (MII-333), wouldn't happen to be a Cyrix, would it? If it
is, this is your problem right here. It is very lacking in performance when
it comes to multimedia and running a CD-RW. Although I don't know much about
your system, I would be willing to bet that your motherboard is one of those
that has everything built onto it, like the sound card, video card, Lan
adapter, etc...
As for your Media Player, it may be that there is something running that is
using your sound card and that is why you don't hear anything. What you
could do is try closing as many programs as possible. Go to your task
manager by hitting Ctrl-Alt-Delete, just once. When the window opens, End
Task all of the programs in there EXCEPT Systray, Explorer and any Antivirus
program. Then run your WMP and try to play a file.

For your games, if they require DOS to run, then they will have a problem
running under Win ME, as DOS is not functioning in ME. It is there, but it
is hidden and not in use. I use Win ME and I know that some programs have
problems running because of this. This is why I had to upgrade my Norton
Antivirus and Systemworks. The 2000 versions of these programs didn't work
properly so I had to get the 2001 versions which were made for Windows ME.

As for the CD-RW, it is simply the case of your system's limitations. This
was the reason that I eventually upgraded my system.

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